More from Football

Cresswell's up for cutting Crewe

Ryan Cresswell admits Southend are out to exact revenge on Crewe when the two sides meet in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Last Updated: 06/04/13 2:32pm

The Shrimpers saw last season's promotion dreams crushed in the play-off semi-finals by a Crewe side who went on to clinch victory at Wembley over Cheltenham and seal promotion from npower League Two.

Centre-back Cresswell was not part of Southend's ranks for the heartache, joining from Rotherham last summer, but he insists the Essex club are looking to get their own back in what will be his first appearance at the national stadium.

"I think that's just in the back of any footballer's mind, any competitive person, if someone has one over you then the next thing you want to do is get them back. That's just human instinct," he said.

"As a football club, we owe Crewe a good hiding, they denied this club from going to Wembley last season. I think now we've made that step to get to Wembley this season, we're going there to win it.

"That's the main thing everyone needs to realise - yes, well done getting there but it's no good going there and losing, it's a place where you want to win."

Cresswell stresses it is business as usual at Roots Hall after Phil Brown replaced sacked boss Paul Sturrock less than two weeks ago, with the Scot subsequently declining chairman Ron Martin's unprecedented offer of making a stunning one-game return for the Trophy final.

Sturrock will instead be one of over 31,000 Southend fans attending the club's first-ever cup final at Wembley.

Cresswell added: "It will be weird, thinking about it now, the new gaffer's going to be in the dugout and the old gaffer's going to be in the stands.

"But I can guarantee that as soon as the whistle blows the only thing I'll be concentrating on is what happens in between the white lines."

Crewe centre-back Adam Dugdale scored the only goal in his side's first-leg triumph last May - a goal that ultimately proved decisive as the teams played out a 2-2 draw at Roots Hall.

The 25-year-old has not found the net since heading home that collectors item and knows his role as part of a team that has adapted seamlessly to life at a higher level will count for little against opponents out to settle a score.

"I didn't mind who we got in the final as long as we got there ourselves," Dugdale said.

"It's going to be difficult, they're a good League Two side.

"You can imagine what you're going to get from them - they're going to be direct, strong, powerful and put it on us.

"But we're confident, we've been there before and won. If we go there with a good gameplan and stick to the gameplan I'd be very confident we can do the job."

A product of Crewe's famed academy system, Dugdale left the Cheshire outfit in December 2007 following brief loan stints at Accrington and Southport and spent time in non-league football at Droylsden, Barrow and Hyde.

He returned to Gresty Road in summer 2010 and concedes, at that time, the prospect of Wembley appearances in consecutive seasons was the stuff of pure fantasy.

"When I came back, this sort of stuff I couldn't have dreamt of," he added. "It's been brilliant from everyone involved.

"You want to be a footballer to win medals. At this level, this is the cup that you know you've got a realistic chance of winning.

"Bradford did brilliantly this year but it doesn't come around that often.

"It's an ideal opportunity to win a medal and we'll be going there very confident that we can finish the job off."